Latest California Healthline Stories
Calif. Lawmakers Want Prime Facilities Off List of Top Hospitals
California Sen. Ed Hernandez and Assembly member Richard Pan are urging Truven Health Analytics to remove two Prime Healthcare Services hospitals — Garden Grove Hospital and Medical Center and Shasta Regional Medical Center — from its Top 100 Hospitals list. Modern Healthcare, Health IT Analytics.
Anthem-HealthCare Partners ACO Reports $4.7M in Savings
Anthem Blue Cross and HealthCare Partners physician groups say that their California-based accountable care organization saved $4.7 million in the first half of 2013 by reducing hospital admissions and lengths of stay, as well as radiology and other laboratory tests. Los Angeles Times, HealthCare Partners release.
DOJ Report Slams Mental Health Care at L.A. County Jails
Citing a significant increase in suicides, “deplorable conditions” and inadequate mental health care, the U.S. Department of Justice is seeking a court order to ensure the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department addresses issues at county jails. AP/U-T San Diego, Los Angeles Times‘ “L.A. Now.”
Whooping Cough Cases in San Diego County Surpass 500, Experts Blame Less-Effective Vaccine
San Diego County has reported more than 500 whopping cough cases from January through May, according preliminary estimates from the county Health and Human Services Agency. Experts attribute the high infection rates — which are on track to surpass epidemic rates seen in 2010 — to the vaccine, which they say is less effective than previous versions. U-T San Diego.
Medicaid Application Backlogs Vary Widely Among States
More than 1.7 million U.S. residents still are waiting for their Medicaid applications to be processed, with some pending longer than the federal government’s 45-day processing deadline, according to state officials in 15 states. California has the biggest backlog with about 900,000 applications pending as of early June and Illinois – the second highest — has 283,000 such applications. Meanwhile, New York has no pending Medicaid applications. Kaiser Health News/Washington Post.
A bill introduced earlier this year by state Sen. Ricardo Lara that would give undocumented California residents access to expanded Medi-Cal and a dedicated insurance exchange with state-funded subsidies is on hold in the Senate Appropriations Committee. Lara’s staff said the senator plans to unveil a similar measure next year. KQED’s “State of Health.”
Gallup Poll: U.S. Uninsured Rate Holds Steady at 13.4%
The national uninsured rate remained at 13.4% in May after it declined from 17.4% in the fourth quarter of 2013 to 13.4%, its lowest level, in April, according to a new Gallup survey. The latest survey found that the decline in uninsured rates was most significant among the black and Hispanic populations. The Hill, Washington Times.
Bipartisan Measure Takes Aim at VA Health Care Issues
Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chair Bernie Sanders and Sen. John McCain on Thursday announced they reached a bipartisan agreement on a measure that would expand health care options for veterans and give the secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs greater authority to fire low-performing employees. The lawmakers are pushing for a quick vote on the proposal. New York Times, Los Angeles Times‘ “Nation Now.”
Calif. Lawmakers Unveil Federal Bill To Restrict Guns for Mentally Ill
Sen. Barbara Boxer, Sen. Dianne Feinstein and Rep. Lois Capps have introduced legislation in both the House and Senate that aims to prevent individuals who are suspected of having mental health issues or who pose a risk of committing violence from owning guns. The California Legislature is considering a similar measure. Sacramento Bee‘s “Capitol Alert” et al.
4M Residents To Pay Individual Mandate Penalties in 2016, CBO Says
A Congressional Budget Office and the Joint Committee on Taxation report estimates about four million U.S. residents will pay penalties under the Affordable Care Act’s individual mandate in 2016. The figure is down from CBO’s 2012 estimate that about six million people would have to pay penalties. Washington Post‘s “Wonkblog.”